LOUISVILLE (WHAS11) -- The Louisville Zoo is now the latest business to take Papa John out of the business’ name of one of its attractions, but the Schnatter name remains.
The Papa John Splash Park will now be named after Annette Schnatter, John Schnatter's wife, who has been very involved in the zoo over the years.
This move comes after John Schnatter, the founder and former CEO of Papa Johns, stepped down as leader of the company and apologized for using a racial slur.
Zoo leaders made the announcement in a statement which read in part:
"It is with the Zoo's mission in mind, that the Louisville Zoo Foundation Board has decided to change the name of the Splash Park to recognize Annette Schnatter for her unflagging personal commitment to the Zoo over nearly twenty years."
"In many ways this might be an acceptable middle ground, at least for the leaders of the zoo and for the company Papa Johns," Spalding University Professor and Dean Kurt Jefferson said.
The Zoo isn't the first to make a decision like this one. UofL announced they would change the name of the stadium last week.
In Jeffersonville, the pizza mogul's hometown, his name removed from a walk of fame and school building.
But in a different move, the zoo kept the family name honoring their years of support.
Business expert Kurt Jefferson called it a smart move.
"It will probably, in the long run, pay off, while at the same time acknowledging that what was said and what happened was not good," he said.
For now, there is a temporary sign at the front of the splash park.
Zoo officials said they do not know when a new sign will go up. They also confirmed the Schnatter name is on a donor plaque, located on a rock. They do not intend to remove that.